The temperature is -11 degrees as the ice fog hangs listlessly beneath the face of the mighty Chugach Mountains as the ARR's annual Colony Christmas train leaves the mainline at 150.5 for it's 6 mile journey all the way to the end of the Palmer Branch. The low Alaska sun glints off the side of the 6 car train which consists of a GP40-2, a power car, 4 "low level domes, " one "bistro" car, the ARR's business car #1 "Denali," trailed by GP38-2. Behind the train can be seen the CTC signal protecting the mainline and a work train tucked into the outfit track.
